Credit, ATM and Debit Cards:

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Phishing Forum

Consumer Advice: How to

Avoid Phishing Scams

Phishing

Phishing is the act of attempting to fraudulently acquire sensitive information, such as passwords and credit card details, by masquerading as a trustworthy person or business with a real need for such information in a seemingly official electronic notification or message (most often an email, or an instant message). It is a form of social engineering attack.

Computer  phishing is a form of social engineering, characterized by attempts to fraudulently acquire sensitive information, such as passwords and credit card details, by masquerading as a trustworthy person or business in an apparently official electronic communication, such as an email or an instant message. The term phishing arises from the use of increasingly sophisticated lures to "fish" for users' financial information and passwords.

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1. Keep your security software current. Update your firewalls and security patches frequently. Consider using software from companies like McAfee and Symantec.
    

2. Monitor your account. Check your account periodically to see if there is any suspicious activity.
    

3. Change your password often. And, if you think your security may have been breached, create a new password immediately.
    

4. Use a unique password. Your PayPal password should be one-of-a-kind, and not used on any of your other accounts. A good password contains letters and numbers. This makes it more difficult for people to guess it.
    

5. Take action. If your information is compromised, get a fraud alert placed on your credit report.

The United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team (US-CERT)

Anti-Phishing Working Group

Federal Trade Commission

California Man Arrested in AOL Phishing Scheme

Ziff Davis via Yahoo! News

Phishers Sinking to New Lows at The Washington Post

Anti-Phishing.org  - Alerts on 'spoofed' e-mails and fraudulent web sites, news, and more on the problem of phishing and email fraud.

Internet Fraud Complaint Center (IFCC)  - provides an avenue for fraud victims to file complaints. A partnership between the FBI and the National White Collar Crime Center.

Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS)  - Responsible for implementing the Computer Crime Initiative, a comprehensive program designed to address the growing global computer crime problem.

Hoaxbusters  - Get information about the fraudulent email chain letters, warnings, offers, and pleas for help, computer viruses, and more. From the Department of Energy.

Interpol: Information Technology Crime  - includes a FAQ on information security, a checklist of IT security and crime prevention methods, and more.

Site Seeing On the Internet  - Guide to help you prepare for your voyage on the Internet and avoid fraud and deception en route. From the U.S. Government.